Game on? Nope, as NHL axes schedule through Oct. 24 — and, da, Pavelski is heading to the KHL

Difficult to stay right on top of things while trying to cover the America’s Cup World Series in San Francisco with the Blue Angels breaking the sound barrier (kidding, of course, but it is loud) overhead.

But while I’ve been distracted, the NHL went ahead and canceled two weeks of hockey, 82 games through Oct. 24. Essentially, it’s one team’s season down and 29 to go.

All I’ll do for now is pass along the emailed statements from the two sides, deputy NHL superintendent Bill Daly and NHLPA executive director Don Fehr. Then it’s back to today’s assignment in San Francisco.

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Fehr was the first to share his thoughts with the media:

“The decision to cancel the first two weeks of the NHL season is the unilateral choice of the NHL owners. If the owners truly cared about the game and the fans, they would lift the lockout and allow the season to begin on time while negotiations continue.

“A lockout should be the last resort in bargaining, not the strategy of first resort. For nearly 20 years, the owners have elected to lock-out the players in an effort to secure massive concessions.

“Nevertheless, the players remain committed to playing hockey while the parties work to reach a deal that is fair for both sides. We hope we will soon have a willing negotiating partner.”

Ninety-two minutes after that, this landed in the IN box from Daly:

“We were extremely disappointed to have to make today’s announcement.
The game deserves better, the fans deserve better and the people who derive income from their connection to the NHL deserve better.

“We remain committed to doing everything in our power to forge an
agreement that is fair to the players, fair to the teams and good for our
fans.

“This is not about ‘winning’ or ‘losing’ a negotiation. This is about
finding a solution that preserves the long-term health and stability of the League and the game.

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“We are committed to getting this done.”

******Joe Pavelski became the first Shark to head to the KHL with the news today that he’ll be joining Dinamo Minsk.

That’s a pretty major change of scenery and, for now at least, he advised me that the rest of the family is staying home.

******Made a few enemies on Twitter when I suggested that because the Giants and A’s are in the playoffs, the Sharks won’t be missed as much around here as the team might prefer.

Not arguing the merits of baseball over hockey. Just thought I was stating the obvious in looking at the Bay Area’s sports landscape.

******One more thing: For those looking for a hockey fix, a quick plug for the San Jose State hockey club. They play at Sharks Ice and their season starts Friday night with a 7:30 p.m. home game against Southern Cal.

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

“Well after this weekend it looks like the A’s and Giants are about done.”

I think you will say that about any team. Except maybe the Globetrotters.

Let me ask…were you “shocked” when Andre the Giant lost?

Teejay

With gas at 5 bucks a gallon, who can even afford to drive to a Sharks game, much less the cost of a ticket to see the game?????

tifososquali

Teejay, and then add the cost of a drink and a pizza and you’ve definitely need to refinance….

Stevo

If you love the planet, you shouldn’t have a problem with high gas prices. It makes people stop making wasteful trips, which lowers air pollution. Imagine how much less smog we’d have if gas was $10/gallon! It’s a small price to pay for clean air.

Or, we can pay $3/gal for gas and pay a $2/gal carbon credit to the government, and they take that money and use it to clean up the air.

We have to change if we are to move forward.

ds27

I see that Heemskerk finally was sent to the Bulls.

btw, idiot, have you ever heard of freedom? anyone who likes $10 gas prices is a moron of the worst kind.

Hockeynut

btw, idiot, have you ever heard of freedom? anyone who likes $10 gas prices is a moron of the worst kind.

what do gas prices have to do with freedom? (this isn’t a political forum but I have to ask anyway)

ds27

high gas prices are a regressive tax on working middle class people.

or is going to work a “wasteful trip” too??

Beer League Rocks

Wow. No NHL and the natives are getting restless….
It now costs me $40 to play beer league hockey, $15 for gas and $25 per game….
Wish my team didn’t have a week off.
That’s all I got, carry on with calling each other names….

Snow Shovel, how about a poem????

Angel from Texas

Yeah snow shovel, we could all use a poem right now. Please!

Snow Shovel

Angel, how about this: There is a KHL hockey game on ESPN2 today at 5:00 PM from moscow Sports – Lev vs Dynamo. I don’t know who these teams are, but I am going to check it out. There should be NHL players I should recognize.

It’s on now.

Snow Shovel

Ovechkin and Chara are playing.

Snow Shovel

Marion Hossa is playing.

Snow Shovel

Well, I watched the first two periods last night. It’s NHL caliber hockey. Not much hitting though, it’s more about finesse with the Russians/Europeans, as it always has been. Barry Melrose was one of the announcers.

But I couldn’t get into it. I didn’t know the teams or the players or their history…

I MISS MY SHARKS HOCKEY…sob, sob, sob! 🙁

Snow Shovel

Beer League and Angel – here’s your poem: 🙂

You know their is a vice-presidential debate on tv tomorrow night, right? Between Joe Biden and Paul Ryan.

Joe, Joe, he’s our man,
If he can do it anyone can.

Joe, Joe, take a stand,
Keep Big Bird from getting canned.

Hockeynut

Ryan, Ryan, please stop lyin
We know the laws you’ll pass

Cut the tax for earners “max”
and skrew the middle class.

santa clara

yeah, don’t lie like the Obama administration about a terrorist attack in Libya in which 4 Americans were murdered.

Hockeynut

yeah, don’t lie like the Obama administration about a terrorist attack in Libya in which 4 Americans were murdered.

No one wants this forum to turn in to a partisan political pissing contest. But check the facts before you post.

Well, my tonue’s bleedin’ – geez, someone tell me the SUBSTANTIAL difference between Democrats and Republicans? When they accuse each other of lying it’s the only time they’re telling the truth.

Angel from Texas

Haha thanks Snow Shovel.

GhostShark

@68 “When they accuse each other of lying it’s the only time they’re telling the truth.”

That may be one of the best political statements I’ve ever heard.

Scott Ramming

TJ Galiardi is playing in Germany with the Bietigheim-Bissingen Steelers of the 2.Bundesliga, which I believe is one level below the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. The team’s web site is http://www.steelers.de/ and yes, it’s in German, so have Google Translate ready. He scored a power-play goal during his first game there.

Angel from Texas

Read an article on yahoo that said during the summer Shane doan’s daughter was mauled by a dog and had to have 150 stitches. I’m surprised this story didn’t come up when it happened.

Oct 15, 2012

Who’s gonna be at HP with me on Monday the 15th, carrying signs about the lockout in front of the Arena. The more of us there around 5-7 pm the better.

Some of us (dare I say many of us), and especially myself, don’t give a damn whether you come back this season. In fact, I’m questioning whether I care if you come back EVER!

God bless the Niners and Giants. They’ve made this loss much, much easier to deal with.

In fact, I credit the NHL lockout with re-kindling my love affair with these other two Bay Area franchises. For about 8 years there I lost contact with the Giants and Niners in favor of the Sharks. WELL, THAT’S OVER!

My re-newed love for the Giants and Sharks also reminds me of another important point: each franchise knows how to step up and seal the deal. Translation: THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP. THEY DON’T CHOKE!

Instead of having Patrick Marleau as the face of the franchise, the Giants have Buster “Clutch Grand Slam” Posey. Enough said!

So, dear Sharks, your choking ways and greedy negotiations to some place that gives a damn, because I for one do not!

Formerly,

SharksFanEst1994 and now NinersFanEst1987

SharksFanEst1994

Above was intended to read:

“My re-newed love for the Giants and Niners…”

Not Sharks. Apologies for the typo.

Buddy Elf

SharksFan: Bandwagon much? “oh I like the giants and niners” then “OOP I like the sharks and forget about other sports” “OOoo, now I like giants and niners”

You should be a politician the way you flip flop.

Sharksfanest1994

Hey Buddy,

I’ve read some of your posts here, so I don’t feel the need to dignify your comment with too much of a response other than to point out what many, if not perhaps all of us have either thought about you or commented about you before: